cannot be killed. His life has been spared. I feel it--I
know it. I'll go and find him out. I'll search for him everywhere.
I'll rescue him even if he is in the very heart of Morocco."

"I fear, madam, that's more than you or any other woman can accomplish,"
answered Captain Gale. "But if any human being is able to rescue your
husband, even though the risk may be very great, I for one shall be more
than glad to engage in the work. If he's above the water and above the
earth, we'll find him."

There spoke the warm-hearted impetuous sailor. He did not stop to
consider difficulties, but at once undertook to do what his heart
prompted. It was not quite at the spur of the moment either, because he
had, from the moment he thought Stenning dead, been feeling a sentiment
of pity for his widow; and now he saw her sweet, amiable face, he was
still more anxious to relieve her grief.

Mrs Stenning, as may be supposed, could scarcely find words to thank
Captain Gale for his offer; and when he repeated it the following day,
the owners replied that they would most thankfully accept it, and would
put him in charge of the _Dolphin_, that he might go out in her to
commence his search.

In the meantime, the people we had picked up at sea were landed, and
taken care of by the inhabitants of the place. Mrs Stenning insisted
on taking charge of poor Mrs Ellis, the widow of the captain of the
_Eagle_; and Mr Carr volunteered to join the _Dolphin_, to go in search
of Walter Stenning, with whom, curiously enough, he was well acquainted.
Captain Gale at once offered to take me instead of sending me home, as
had been arranged he should do; and, of course, I was delighted to join
him. Peter Poplar at once volunteered to accompany him; as indeed did
all the crew of the brig, and some of the seamen we saved from the
wreck: the greater number were, however, too ill to serve again at sea.

The articles, as it happened, which composed the cargo, being much in
demand at the time, sold well; and the owners were the better able,
therefore, to fit out the brig in as liberal a way as could be desired.
She was, accordingly, strongly armed, and well able to contend with any
rover or other vessel we might meet on the African coast. After the
lessons we had received, also, we were not likely to be taken by
surprise,--the mode in which the pirates of those days usually attempted
to capture their prey.

Mrs Stenning used frequently to come on boa